Hurricanes: Cleanup, Disaster Recovery, PPE and Safety

Hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico starts June 1st and ends November 30th.  The peak season always is around mid-August to late October, as shown in the below image.  Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey hit in late August, and now Hurricane Dorian looks to make landfall during this period too.

Hurricane Katrina hit 8/29/2005 and Hurricane Harvey hit 8/26/17, both during peak season.

Recent hurricanes have been intense, with sustained wind speeds reaching 157 mph, a category 5 level.  When a hurricane's massive system strikes, those facing its destructive path and stored up energy face serious hazards: heavy rains, high winds, flooding, storm surge, and tornadoes.  Once the storm has moved on, the hazards don't end.  Post-Cleanup workers face limitless hazards during recovery efforts from the damage caused.

This blog addresses the PPE required by workers during a hurricane's post-cleanup efforts.  We’ll also talk about CDC recommendations, OSHA recommendations and FEMA's guidance.

MCR Safety's Hurricane Cleanup PPE

Time is precious for those involved in restoring order after a hurricane.  In addition, response activities that take place early on save lives.  So, we're not going to waste any time highlighting the PPE worn by FEMA teams, emergency professionals, first respondents, and returning home owners.  Click the link at the end which showcases MCR Safety's Hurricane Recovery PPE list.

The following guides will assist in selecting PPE too.

Click the above image to check out all of MCR Safety's Grippaz™ disposable gloves. 

We recognize this is a challenging time and hope to make this an easy buying process for all those involved.   Keep in mind, the above simplified list highlights some of our everyday PPE styles worn by workers.  In addition to these items, our product line of safety glasses, gloves, and garments is vast.  Workers may require specialized PPE for dealing with specific hazards.  For any questions or support, we've setup a direct line to contact us, see below.

Recovery disaster areas are never the same from day-to-day and are continuously changing during cleanup efforts.  It is imperative anyone working in a hurricane disaster area performs a quick risk assessment, before starting work and wearing PPE.  We know this sounds easier said than done when you're facing a colossal disaster area.  However, if you're encountering chemicals and only wearing general purpose leather gloves, you're most likely going to get injured. 

So, we encourage you to stay alert and be on the lookout for hazards your current PPE isn't designed to protect against.  Many times, injuries are a result of simply not wearing the correct PPE.

What jobs are needed after a hurricane?

Indeed, an employment search engine, shows over 2,200 hurricane jobs available across the entire country.  Many of these workers will need to wear PPE, like the options mentioned above. 

Here is just a snapshot of the jobs found:

• Construction Worker
• Disaster Recovery Specialists
• Electricians
• General labor
• Hurricane Shutter Installer
• Painter
• Security
• Stucco Repair
• Window and door installer

There are countless other jobs shown on their site.  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

On the CDC's website, there are excellent resources for those involved in post-recovery cleanup efforts in hurricane flood zones.   You will find the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fact sheet that offers general guidance for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Here are some of the PPE they highlight:

• Safety goggles
• Safety glasses
• Heavy Duty work gloves
• Steel toe boots

All of these are covered in our list provided above. Here are some additional hazards where PPE is required, with MCR Safety protection pages next to each hazard.

Sharp jagged metal

Hurricane cleanup hazards

• Sharp jagged debris - Cut Protection
• Slippery surfaces - Grippaz™ disposable gloves
• Bacteria,bloodborne pathogens, and infectious organisms  - Disposable gloves
• Cleaning agents - Chemical Protection
• Toxic substances from flooded industrial waste sites - Chemical Protection
• Being struck by tree limbs - Impact Protection 
• Mold from general cleanup - DuPont™ Tyvek® 
• Injuries from equipment, such as chain saws and chippers - Safety Glasses
• Floodwater - Liquid Protection
• Cleaning up debris and material handling - Cut Protection
• Flying debris, dust and fragments - Sealed Eyewear
• Pressurized Washing - Pressure Washing PPE

Flying Dust and Debris

Heavy Duty Work Gloves

As the CDC mentions, heavy duty gloves should be worn whenever possible in a dangerous recovery area.  When you're working around sharp edges, jagged metal, and handling a lot of material, only the best PPE should be worn.  Here are some of the heaviest duty gloves we offer, that are equipped with a cut-resistant liner.  Cut-injuries are absolute concern due to the hazards mentioned above. 

 Here are the ones to consider:

Click on any image for the glove's features and specifications.  

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

OSHA offers multiple resources and tools for those returning to dangerous hurricane zones.  One of these tools is their Hurricane eMatrix shown below.   As with many industry eMatrix tools created by OSHA, this is a dedicated resource page for hazard exposure during hurricane recovery work.

Here are some of the PPE and hazards identified by OSHA:

• Eye and face protection: safety goggles and face shields to protect against flying objects and liquids
• High-visibility apparel – hurricane zones involve high traffic areas
• Hand protection –  needed for protection against chemical hazards, cut and puncture hazards

Hi-Visibility Vests keep workers seen and safe.

OSHA also provides a condensed fact sheet with information for post recovery work. 

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides post-disaster support and a central location near a disaster's impact area.   The agency's Incident Management Assist Teams deploy at a moment's notice to facilitate the management of catastrophic incidents

For all those returning to their homes after a hurricane, be sure to check out FEMA's PDF for recovery from a disaster.   In this document, FEMA highlights the importance of safety.  Stay alert to contaminated buildings, broken glass, damaged electrical wiring and sharp metal.

Dangerous materials, like broken glass, are everywhere after a hurricane hits. 

Cut-resistant and puncture-resistant glovesguard worker hands with essential PPE during a hurrican's cleanup efforts.

We Protect People!

MCR Safety protects workers across hundreds of industries and workplace environments, including post-recovery hurricane zones. 

For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world-leader in gloves, glasses, and garments.  Whether it’s on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, or at disaster areas, we are there providing solutions to workplace hazards.  It’s all part of our commitment to protect people. 

Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video.  For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.